Hill delivers again for Sox with 2-hitter

Boston lefty finishes with 10 strikeouts in his 1st shutout since 2006

Associated Press

Published 10:52 pm, Friday, September 25, 2015

Photo: Jim Rogash

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BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 25: Rich Hill #62 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles throws in the first inning at Fenway Park on September 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 538595611 less

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 25: Rich Hill #62 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles throws in the first inning at Fenway Park on September 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim ... more

Photo: Jim Rogash

Hill delivers again for Sox with 2-hitter

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Rich Hill kept up his startling comeback, pitching a two-hitter and striking out 10 as the Boston Red Sox beat the Orioles 7-0 Friday night.

The 35-year-old Hill (2-0) was released by Washington in June, then played for the Long Island Ducks in an independent league before signing a minor-league deal with the Red Sox in August.

Hill threw his second career shutout — the other came in 2006 with the Chicago Cubs. The game ended when right fielder Mookie Betts made a leaping catch at the wall, robbing Chris Davis of a homer.

Hill gave up a hit to the first batter he faced before holding Baltimore hitless until Dariel Alvarez opened the ninth with an infield single.

Earlier this month, Hill became the first Red Sox pitcher to fan 10 or more in his initial two starts.

David Ortiz had three doubles and three RBIs as Boston stopped a three-game losing streak. Xander Bogaerts added three hits and drove in a run.

Kevin Gausman (3-7) gave up five runs in five-plus innings, falling to 1-6 with a 6.10 ERA on the road.

The Orioles were coming off a three-game sweep of the Nationals.

Hill hadn't started in the majors in six years before coming up in September. The Red Sox are the fourth big-league team the lefty has pitched for in the past three seasons.

Leading 2-0 in the sixth, Boston scored two runs when both players slid into the plate a second or so apart on Ortiz's double that chased Gausman.

Dustin Pedroia drew a leadoff walk and Bogaerts singled. Ortiz then hit a deep shot to right, just out of the reach of Alvarez.

Pedroia, who held up to see if the ball was caught so he could tag up, beat the relay throw by going in headfirst before Bogaerts slid in ahead of catcher Caleb Joseph's tag. Brock Holt's RBI double made it 5-0.